1Walking just a little bit faster than the normal human would. I raced back toward the mustang, sliding into the seat and pulling out of the parking lot in a matter of seconds. I had totally lost the façade I usually kept around humans, I was so distracted. I didn't even think twice as I cut off the tiny little Honda Civic that was driving to slow for my taste.
I don't know why I was scared – if that was what I was – of seeing the 2 vampires in the store. It had rattled me a little and caught me off guard; I could feel the gentle trembling in my limbs as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. The veins on the back of my hand slightly protruded. I had to release the death grip or the steering wheel would be putty in my hands . . . literally.
They had to be vampires, the scent was similar to the ones Gabby and John had, but not that potent, no where near it actually.
As I sped down the street, weaving through the traffic, I thought how lucky I was for parking that close. Something had drawn me to that spot for a reason, and quite honestly I didn't care what the reasoning was behind it. I had gotten away from there.
I relaxed in my seat and took a long, even, unneeded breath; I scanned my mirrors briefly as I motored forward. My shoulders fell from their tense position as I eased my foot from the gas. This wasn't so unusual; there were plenty of vampires around after all.
I kept my eyes on the road, that was until I caught the canary yellow Porsche trailing behind me in my rearview mirror.
"Shit" I muttered to myself, speeding up to 130mph.
I maneuvered the Mustang through the traffic, my senses and instincts were peaking with the anxiety I felt. As I sped up, I heard the engine of the Porsche accelerate. The gentle humming of the engine met my ears, the sleek machine was purring as its speed increased.
"Shit, shit, shit!" I muttered to myself as I pushed the pedal to the floor.
What did they want with me? Why were they following me? It would be just my luck if this was one of those crazy southern wars crusaders that Gabby had told me about. I remember her telling me that it was only going on in the southern states.
If it was one of those situations I asked myself 2 questions:
When did it make its grand debut in the northern states?
How was I going to get out of this situation?
I raced this mystery person in the Porsche around the streets of Seattle. Both machines weaving in and out of the building traffic, we were almost perfectly synchronized. I checked my rearview mirror ever so often to see if I would lose them but they were persistent at keeping up with me as I was on losing them.
I came to the realization that these had to be the two vampires I saw in the department store earlier. Yes, they were beautiful, and this could very well be their territory, but what gave them the right to follow me around like some stupid COPS' knock off?
Frustrated, I growled a menacing growl under my breath as I raced around some Toyota with a broken tail light. I could feel the monster coming out of me the more my temper rose. My lips pulled back over my teeth as I growled again, a little bit louder, and gripped the steering wheel harder and pressing the accelerator down more. I could feel the steering wheel give away under my grip as the plastic splinters trickled out from under my grasp. Pushing the accelerator to the floor now I growled a little more, but much louder, it was building slowly into a snapping snarl, and it was directed at the mystery people behind me.
I made the decision that if this kept up any more, I would pull over and face them myself and things would not go as nicely as I would want it to go as my temper rose, rising at its peak. Murderously angry I attempted to pull over on the right shoulder of the freeway and face these people.
Then, as if they heard my decision the Porsche slowed down to my astonishment. When I noticed this, I pushed the gas harder to put as much space between me and the Porsche.
The Canary yellow was fading in my eye sight the father I drove away from it. The distance was considerable; I knew this because I had better vision than a hawk.
I drove on father and father until it was inevitable, I would have to get gas sometime. I pulled into a small gas station/restaurant out on the edge of Seattle. My still frayed nerves were nagging at me to continue, but the light had come on indicating I needed gas, and an annoying dinging accompanied it.
When I finally jumped out of the car, a mouth watering scent came blowing toward me from the east. I hadn't noticed I was so thirsty; I had been driving around like a maniac for the past two hours trying to lose those people. I inhaled a deep breath, and the venom pooled in my mouth with the scintillating flavor, I looked around for the source of the distracting aroma.
As my eyes scanned the area, I found the source; it was a small family coming from the restaurant side of the building. The two adults, looking blissfully happy, were swinging a beautiful little girl between them by the hands. I instantly stopped breathing when I saw this sight.
Yes, I was a bloodthirsty monster and I went and murdered people as a weekly thing because of the stuff I would, and have killed for. The mouth-watering, toe tingling, warm liquid that made its way down my throat every time I couldn't bear the fire in my throat anymore, but I did have my standards, and I wouldn't slaughter a whole family like some of my former acquaintances would have.
I'd certainly had companions who would have slaughtered the family within a blink of an eye and drained the life from their bodies, even the little girl. It was hers they would have done gymnastics over. The way her sweet innocence wafted over me almost made me lose control, but I would have to wait to hunt, I would not show the monster that I fought for control over to that little girl.
Relief filled me when they finally climbed into their sedan, thus leaving from my eye sight and the keen awareness of my nose. They were escaping the danger that was so close to them, the danger I possessed, if I didn't grab a hold of myself. Breathing in deep, heavy breaths, I waited as the gas pumped into the mustang.
The burn in my throat had started to reach a level of slight pain and irritation. So I made no hesitation when I jumped back in the mustang stomped on the accelerator. I smiled as the engine purred to life and jolted down the street, heading back towards Seattle.
After every hour or so I would chance a glance in my rearview mirror just to check if my unwanted company decided to grace me with their presence again.
I drove around Seattle for a couple of minutes looking for my prey. It only took ten minutes to found him. I hated thinking about humans like this. They were people with families. They had Mothers, Fathers, Siblings, and Children. Maybe it was the instinct of what I was, but I couldn't help but enjoy it when a man saw me for the first time. I loved how their eyes widened in fascination as they tried to drink in all of my beauty in one glance. It amused me how I could get them to do anything and everything with just a few words like "Hi, how are you?"
Of course their minds were probably screaming something else entirely, but they could never pull away as my cold hands would grasp theirs and my cool breath washed them in temptation. They would willingly follow me to their unknown death.
I thought of this as I pulled the car into a space near the curb and got out with the sun glasses on. It wasn't sunny outside, but I doubted it would make me look suspicious as I walked toward a man of average height at a cross walk.
It shocked me that maybe I was finally coming to terms with what I was. Yes, I was a monster, I knew that, I also knew I would never get over the guilt I felt every time I did make a kill, but this was the only way I knew. What other path was there for me? And if there were other options, would I be strong enough to follow them?
I walked toward the man at the cross walk and smiled as he took a double glance at me. Without hesitation, I walked closer toward him.
I don't know why I didn't see this coming, maybe I was so intoxicated with the mans scent that I didn't smell the other one closing in on me. It was too late, when I finally noticed what happened.
While I was walking toward the man, that same odd smell hit me, then I saw them … Well, him actually, as he walked toward me. I stopped dead in my tracks as he came closer.
Stopping my breathing, I tensed myself for an attack. They had to be very bold to fight in the middle of the day with so many humans around. I stood stock still as he came closer cautioning me with those mysterious eyes. He slowly made his way toward me.
"I won't harm you" he said softly.
I guess he was hoping I would relax a little from his words. I have to admit, I was caught off guard by his voice. When it hit me, it was like soft velvet, but there was one thing I knew for certain, you never let your guard down dealing with the vampires, especially vampires with topaz eyes.
I couldn't get over there eyes, I knew that would be one mystery I would solve before I left town again.
He was standing in front of me now. I could see every feature in his angelic face. The light bruises under his mysterious eyes, the way his hair moved when the wind blew, bringing with it his scent that knocked the air out of me all over again.
He was staring back at me with an expression that I couldn't understand. It looked like curiosity mixed with frustration. I couldn't understand it, but I didn't care I could stay looking at this beautiful man forever if I had to. Before I could gather my scattered thoughts he spoke again, dazzling me with his scent, his lightly aromatic breath and smooth voice.
"I think I need to introduce myself," he stated. "My name is Edward Cullen, and this is my sister Alice. May we know yours?"
I didn't even notice the girl that was standing at his side now, but when I did glance at her, I noticed she was very beautiful too, just like him. Her inky black hair blew gently in the breeze, and her features were so much more pronounced than I had seen when she stood in the store.
She looked really excited for some odd reason; she was beaming as she gave a smile as he said her name.
"Hello" she said in a beautiful sing-song voice. It sounded oddly musical and harmonious. I remembered hearing Gabby and John's voices, not to mention the other numerous vampires I came across during the years.
All of them had beautiful voices that could leave anybody stunned, but never were that attractive as the two facing me now.
"Would you mind telling us your name" Edward asked me again. His golden eyes locked on to me.
"Isabella Swan" I said softly.
I watched his eyes narrowing slightly when he heard my name.
"Bella" I said even softer.
I didn't like the name Isabella, it sounded weird to me, too formal and unfamiliar. Out of place in the life I was living now. I didn't have the faintest idea why I gave him that name anyway.
"Edward" Alice said, bringing his focus away and from me and toward her.
I took this is as a chance to gather my thoughts before his attention was back on me again.
"We need to move, the sun will be making appearance in a few minutes and I don't think we need to be here when it does." she stated softly.
Edward nodded his head and turned back to me, stunning me once again with his features.
"Bella," he said softly. "Would you mind accompanying me and my sister back to our home in Forks, it's not that far from here?"
This is what snapped me out of my trance, Forks? They lived in Forks? Impossible!
I know I've been away from home for sometime, and they probably settled in when I was gone but …Forks?
"Edward!" Alice said again, motioning to the sky.
Looking up I saw the clouds moving away from the sun as the wind blew again to the east.
"Bella," he said with a little more urgency.
I looked at him again, and nodded a stiff nod. I fell in step behind him and Alice, walking toward the Porsche parked a few blocks away.